Jazz band travel to gigs in a modified coach which has bunk beds - good little performance at the end.
London.
Interior of a modified Bedford OB Duple coach which takes the jazz band "The Original Downtown Syncopators" to their various gigs. Two of the band sit at a table beside a portable gramophone. M/S of one of the band pouring himself a cup of tea beside the sink (as Ron observes - a nice seedy looking setting). M/S of three of the boys sitting at a table listening to their inspiration The Original Dixieland Jazz Band. The group base their style on this band and study their music. Ideas on arrangements and phrasing are taken from these recordings.
One of the band gets out of the top bunk of a bunk bed in his pyjamas. C/U of another shaving with a portable battery shaver. Band member checks his watch then climbs into the driver's seat. Two of the band study a road map. Destination today is a jazz club in London's Piccadilly. (According to the paperwork this is the Panama Club in Max's Rehearsal Rooms on Great Windmill Street). Exterior showing the bus moving off - it is a pretty groovy vehicle. The name of the band is on the bus.
Pianist is Ron Geesin, on clarinet is Bob Gordon-Walker, cornet player is Terry Parmenter, trombonist is Barry Dunning and on drums is Chris Gyoury. Natural sound. Clapper board is used to start the song. Various shots of the band members who all wear 1920s style outfits, red and white striped blazers, bow ties and white trousers. A girl in a flapper outfit sits on the piano. They play some jazz. Song intercut with shots of audience (beatnik types drinking pop through straws) and flapper girl. Good C/Us of the musicians.
Nice - if you like jazz!
Note: beta transfer not in sync. Will be retransferred. Ron Geesin - pianist for the Original Downtown Syncopators has let us know that the girl in the flapper's outfit is Janet - wife-to-be at this time of Bob Gordon-Walker.
Unknown user says
The coach is a modified Bedford OB Duple, Reg. No. HBP 873.
Unknown user says
Thanks.
Downtown says
Chris Gyoury (1938-2009), playing drums, was my Uncle. Chris Gyoury later became a respected film director, cinematographer and cinegraphic inventor, inventing both the "GoldenGate" (see American Cinematographer - Jan 1985, Vol. 66 No.1) and specialist cinematic lighting. Also see GoldenGate article in http://www.csc.ca/publications/2012/201210/IssueWeb201210.pdf